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〃She told her father she'd have an answer for him within two days。 But she didn't。 She was murdered。〃
I said； 〃Maybe that was her answer。〃
Colonel Fowler looked somewhat startled。 〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃Think about it； Colonel。〃
〃You mean she had Colonel Moore assist her in some sort of bizarre suicide？〃
〃Perhaps。〃 I asked him； 〃And there is no single or specific incident from the past that would explain Captain Campbell's anger toward her father？〃
〃Such as what？〃
〃Such as 。。。 rival affections…mother； daughter； that sort of thing。〃
Colonel Fowler regarded me closely for a moment as if I were a step away from crossing the line between a murder investigation and an unspeakable breach of conduct and ethics。 He replied coolly； 〃I don't know what you're getting at； Mr。 Brenner； and I suggest you don't even try to explain。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Is that all？〃
〃I'm afraid not。 It gets even muckier； Colonel。 You say you had no sexual relationship with the deceased。 Why not？〃
〃What do you mean； why not？〃
〃I mean； why did she not proposition you； or if she did； did you turn her down？〃
Colonel Fowler's eyes flitted to the door for a second as if to assure himself that Mrs。 Fowler was not around to hear this。 He replied； 〃She never propositioned me。〃
〃I see。 Was that because you're black or because she knew it was a useless attempt？〃
〃I 。。。 I would rather think it was 。。。 She did date a few black officers 。。。 not here at Hadley； but in the past； so it wasn't that。 So I'd have to say that she knew 。。。〃 He smiled for the first time。 〃。。。 she knew I was not corruptible。〃 He added； again with a smile； 〃Or she thought I was ugly。〃
Cynthia said； 〃But you're not； Colonel； and even if you were； it wouldn't have mattered to Ann Campbell。 I suspect she did proposition you； and you turned her down out of loyalty to your wife； your manding officer； or because of your own sense of morality。 At that point； you became Ann Campbell's second worst enemy。〃
Fowler had clearly had enough and said； 〃I don't think I've ever had a conversation like this in my life。〃
I replied； 〃You've probably never been involved in a homicide investigation。〃
〃No； I haven't； and if you would make that arrest； this investigation would be over。〃
〃Actually； it would continue right up to and through a court…martial。 I don't make many mistakes； Colonel； but when I think I may have； I don't mind working hard to expose my own errors。〃
〃I mend you； Mr。 Brenner。 Perhaps； though； Colonel Moore can satisfy your doubts。〃
〃He can try； but he may have his own version of events。 I like to have everyone's version so I can make a better evaluation as to the quality of the bullshit。〃
〃As you wish。〃
Cynthia asked him； 〃Did Captain Campbell have any brothers or sisters？〃
〃There is a brother。〃
〃What can you tell us about him？〃
〃He lives out on the West Coast。 Some place with a Spanish name。 Can't think of it。〃
〃He's not military？〃
〃No。 He's 。。。 he has explored many careers。〃
〃I see。 You've met him？〃
〃Yes。 He es home most holidays。〃
〃Does he strike you as suffering from the same problems you suggested his sister was suffering from？〃
〃To some extent 。。。 but he chose to distance himself from the family。 That's how he deals with it。 During the Gulf War； for instance； when some California TV station wanted to interview him； they couldn't find him。〃
Cynthia asked； 〃Would you describe him as alienated from his parents？〃
〃Alienated？ No 。。。 just distant。 When he's home； they all seem quite happy to see him； and then sad that he's left。〃
〃And how was the relationship between brother and sister？〃
〃Very good； from what I could see。 Ann Campbell was very accepting of him。〃
〃In regard to his 。。。 what？ His life…style？〃
〃Yes。 John Campbell…that's his name…is gay。〃
〃I see。 And did General Campbell accept this？〃
Fowler thought a moment； then replied； 〃I think he did。 John Campbell was always discreet…never brought male lovers home； dressed pretty much mainstream and all that。 I think if the general hadn't had his hands full with his daughter and her indiscretions； he might have been more disappointed in his son。 But pared to Ann； John is a solid citizen。〃
〃I understand；〃 Cynthia said。 〃Do you think that General Campbell perhaps pushed his daughter into a traditional male role…I mean West Point and the Army…to make up for his son's lack of interest in those pursuits？〃
〃That's what everyone says。 But； as with most of life； things aren't that pat。 In fact； Ann was a very enthusiastic cadet at West Point。 She wanted to be there and she did very well。 After her four…year active…duty obligation； she stayed in。 So； no； I don't think the general pushed her or coerced her； or withheld affection from her as a child； if； for instance； she showed no interest in going to the Point。 That's what this psychologist suggested； but it was very much the opposite。 Ann Campbell； as I remember her in high school； was a tomboy； and a good candidate for a military career。 In fact； she wanted to continue the tradition。 Her father's father was a career Army officer as well。〃
Cynthia thought a moment； then reminded him； 〃You said she hated the Army。〃
〃Yes 。。。 I said that； but； as you pointed out； it was her father she hated。〃
〃So you were in error when you said that？〃
〃Well 。。。〃
It's always good to highlight a lie； even a small one； during an interrogation。 It puts the suspect or witness on the defensive； where he or she belongs。
Colonel Fowler sought to correct his original statement and said to Cynthia； 〃She originally liked the Army。 I can't say with certainty how she felt about it recently。 She had too much anger； and she had other motives for staying in the service。〃
〃I think I have that clear now。〃 She asked him； 〃Can you give us some idea of the relationship between Ann Campbell and her mother？〃
Colonel Fowler considered this a moment； then replied； 〃They had a decent relationship。 Mrs。 Campbell； contrary to what some people think； is a strong woman； but she's chosen to defer to her husband in terms of his career； his various postings around the world； including ones where she could not acpany him； and in terms of entertaining people she may not personally care for； and those sorts of things。 I use the term 'chosen' because that's what it is…a choice。 Mrs。 Campbell is from the old school； and if she makes a mitment to the marriage； she will stick with it； or leave the marriage if she changes her mind。 She will not gripe and plain and sulk as so many modern wives do today who want to have their cake and eat it； too。〃
He glanced at Cynthia； then continued； 〃She will not embarrass her husband with breaches of conduct； she will take the good with the bad； she will recognize her own worth as a wife and partner； and will not get a job selling real estate downtown in a pathetic attempt to declare her independence。 She does not wear the general's stars； but she knows that he would not be wearing them either if it weren't for her help； dedication； and loyalty over the years。 You asked me about Ann's relationship with her mother； and I told you about Mrs。 Campbell's relationship with her husband